NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From linguist Adam Aleksic known as @etymologynerd on social media
comes a captivating exploration of how internet algorithms are transforming language and
communication in unprecedented ways. “Packed with fascinating facts of-the-moment
observations and a sparkling voice Algospeak is a gift to any word nerd. Deftly covering
everything from emoji etymologies and trendbait to Taylor Swift fanilects... Adam Aleksic is
the wise yet accessible internet linguistics oracle we need.”—Amanda Montell author of The
Age of Magical Overthinking and Cultish From “brainrot” memes and incel slang to the trend of
adding “-core” to different influencer aesthetics the internet has ushered in an
unprecedented linguistic upheaval. We’re entering an entirely new era of etymology heralded by
the invisible forces driving social media algorithms. Thankfully Algospeak is here to explain.
As a professional linguist Adam Aleksic understands the gravity of language and the way we use
it: he knows the ways it has morphed and changed how it reflects society and how in its
everyday usage we carry centuries of human history on our tongues. As a social media
influencer Aleksic is also intimately familiar with the internet’s reach and how social media
impacts the way we engage with one another. New slang emerges and goes viral overnight. Accents
are shaped or erased on YouTube. Grammatical rules loopholes and patterns surface and
transform language as we know it. Our interactions social norms and habits—both online and in
person—shift into something completely different. As Aleksic uses original surveys data and
internet archival research to usher us through this new linguistic landscape he also
illuminates how communication is changing in both familiar and unexpected ways. From our use of
emojis to sentence structure to the ways younger generations talk about sex and death (see
unalive in English and desvivirse in Spanish) we are in a brand-new world one shaped by
algorithms and technology. Algospeak is an energetic astonishing journey into language the
internet and what this intersection means for all of us.
